Bicyclist injured in collision with van

Tuesday

Apr 7, 2009 at 11:20 AM

HOUMA - A bicyclist was seriously injured after he collided with a van at the foot of the Houma twin spans just before 6 p.m. Monday, police said.

Robert Zullo

HOUMA - A bicyclist was seriously injured after he collided with a van at the foot of the Houma twin spans just before 6 p.m. Monday, police said.The bicyclist, 22-year-old Jeremy Toups, of Houma, was riding east over the Main Street span about 5:50 p.m. when he smashed into the side of a northbound Dodge Caravan crossing at Grand Caillou Road, police said.Toups, who wasn't wearing a helmet, hit the van's driver side, shattering a window and denting the rear sliding door.He was taken to Terrebonne General Medical Center with severe cuts to his scalp, head trauma and a badly broken arm, Lt. Darryl Cunningham said. He remains in stable condition today and his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, Interim Police Chief Todd Duplantis said.The driver of the van, Melinda Snyder, 44, of Houma, had the green light and was not cited in the crash, police said.Blood tests on Toups, who police said was in violation of traffic laws, are pending to determine if alcohol or drug use played a role in the collision, police said.Drug or alcohol use is not suspected on Snyder's part, Cunningham said.